Full Length Research Article

Impact of Gender Inequality on Nutritional Status of the Women: A Local to Global Perspective

Jyotirmoyee Banerjee¹, Smita Sahu², Arnab Chatterjee^3*

¹Management Approved Teacher, Department of Food & Nutrition, Trevenidevi Bhalotia College, Raniganj, West Bengal, India

²Assistant Professor, Department of Food & Nutrition, Budge Budge College, Budge Budge, West Bengal, India

³Assistant Professor, Department of Food & Nutrition, Asansol Girls’ College, Asansol, West Bengal, India.

^*Email:arnabchatterjee@agc.ac.in

Abstract

Malnutrition is one of the major public health concerns, irrespective of the country's economic status. Developed and developing countries have launched several nutrition-specific and sensitive policies to address this concern. However, the outcomes of the global nutrition reports are not satisfactory. The reasons for malnutrition are multifaceted. The policies and preventive strategies consist of both biological and social intervention mechanisms. In developed countries, nutrition-specific intervention strategies are effective. On the contrary, in developing countries, the success of nutrition-specific intervention largely depends upon the nutrition-sensitive programs. Hence, social intervention, considering a nutrition-sensitive program, is crucial.  Nutrition-sensitive program often focuses on the women of the population of the country. Thus, the concept of ‘gender’ and its relevance in achieving the country's nutrition targets needs to be re-examined for the nutritional sufficiency of the vulnerable.

Keywords: Malnutrition, nutrition intervention, social intervention, gender, inequality.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64456/panch2025v16i2.01